Dosing body with an external base covering, method and device for applying the base covering

ABSTRACT

A can body with a jacket-like closed wall and a base constructed on one end of the can wall includes an external base covering in the form of a sheet material. The base covering is fixed into position on an annular connection region of the can body. The base covering can form a basically flat imprintable region in a main region that is surrounded by the connection region. If a bar code can be applied in this imprintable region, then a restriction of the configuration possibility of the can wall disappears. The base covering can form a stand region whereby a standing can body is only in contact with the support surface if necessary via the base covering, and consequently the occurrence of corrosion problems is prevented. A retaining device that leaves the base of a held can body free and a position fixing apparatus are used for fixing the base covering into position. A decorative foil on the exterior of the can wall can be overlapped by the base covering, which serves to prevent a detachment of the decorative foil on the base.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/CH02/000609 which has an Internationalfiling date of Nov. 13, 2002, which designated the United States ofAmerica and which claims priority on Swiss Patent Application number158/02 filed Jan. 30, 2002, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a can body, to a method and to adevice. The invention concerns vessels or cans which include a base onone end face of a jacket-like closed wall, and of which preferably atleast one layer of the wall and the base is made of metal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vessels may be formed, for example, as aerosol cans or as beverage cans.Further, cans may be made of aluminum as well as of sheet steel. Inorder to give the vessels a desired appearance and to apply thenecessary information, the jacket-like wall is provided with decorationand labeling. The decoration is, for example, directly printed onto thecan. If need be, however, the decoration can be printed onto labels orfoils that are then applied to the can wall.

One printing cylinder must be used per color with the current printingmethod. The printing costs correspondingly increase with each colorrequired. In addition to decorative or graphically configured labelings,standardized information, such as perhaps a bar code, information onhazards and the composition of the product, and if need be promotionalinformation, must also be applied to the can wall. Moreover, a bar codewith a dark color, preferably black, must be printed on brightbackground, preferably white, which strongly impairs the aestheticeffect of the decoration, especially with dark overall surfaces.

Furthermore, usually two additional colors with the correspondingprinting costs are needed for the bar code. Only the precise number ofcans that are to be brought into commerce with the current bar code orthe current advertising information may be manufactured. In the eventthat the same can is to reach the market at another point in time withanother bar code, then additional cans with the old decoration and thenew bar code or new advertising information must be manufactured. Ifneed be, a label with the new bar code can be manufactured, which isglued over the old bar code or the old advertising information, which isassociated with much expenditure and is not aesthetically satisfactory.

It is likewise aesthetically unsatisfactory that in cans having a curvedtransition region from the can base to the can wall the decorationcannot be printed on in the transition region after the base is formed,which, when the can is standing on its base is manifest as an unsightlyor not printed lower edge.

Due to lower manufacturing costs, today more and more products are beingsold in cans made of sheet steel. It has now been found that such sheetsteel cans rust on the base, especially when used in wet cells. The cansmay stand over long periods of time with their annular support surfaceson a wet surface, or if worst comes to worst, on surfaces that arecontaminated with other substances. Moreover, moisture and materialsadded to this as well as electrical effects can bring about corrosion.

Even with sheet metals that are provided with a thin chromium layer,undesired oxidation has already been observed. The corrosion leads to acontamination of the surface on which the can is standing, and weakensthe base of the can. A weakened can base is dangerous in aerosol cans,especially when butane or propane is used as the propellant gas.

In order to be able to withstand the pressure in the interior of thecan, aerosol cans have a base that is arched toward the can's interior.This base is constructed via a pressing process and includes an inwardlyarched central region and a downwardly projecting annular edge regionwhere the can base transitions into the can jacket. The cans stand onthe annular edge region that can be weakened by corrosion along thesupport line so that the central region of the base could break out.With can materials having a thin chromium layer, the chromium layeralong the support line can be damaged or eliminated by rubbing motionson conveyor facilities of the filler so that corrosion protection isabsent to some extent in the corrosion-endangered edge region. Canswhose bases are connected to the jacket via a fold have a narrow,annular downward standing rim that can be easily damaged or oxidized.Corrosion and possibly other chemical and electrical effects can lead toundesired discolorations of the surface on which the can stands.

Solutions are known from the publications EP 200 098 A2 and EP 208 564in which elements of two-part and multiple part cans are joined withlaser beams. Here the elements to be joined are arranged butted,overlapping and also running toward one another at right angles. Thelaser welding seam is formed for example on the end face, penetratingone layer or as a flat-lap weld. The solutions described are notaesthetically attractive and cannot prevent a possible corrosion of thebase.

From U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,850 a beverage can is known in which thecentral inwardly arched region of the base is coated with a dull color.In this manner, sunlight is prevented from being focused by the concavecan base, which could cause a fire to be ignited by cans thrown awayoutdoors. The coating does not extend over the annular transition regionso that the corrosion problem is not solved.

Moreover, the paint is sprayed onto the flat sheet metal so that whenstamping out the sheet metal disks and deep drawing the cans, care mustbe taken that the applied round paint spots are struck exactly centrallyby the stamping tools, which is associated with an increasedmanufacturing expenditure. Even if the paint were to extend over theannular transition region, the paint layer would no longer be continuousafter deep drawing the can and pressing the base. Also, rubbing thetransition region on conveyors of filling assemblies would lead todamage of the paint layer. Without a continuous paint layer, the alreadymentioned danger of corrosion exists once again.

A beverage can is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,892 in whichinformation is printed on the central inwardly arched region of the basethat is covered with a coating that can be rubbed off in the finishedcan. This solution makes possible an advertising game in which the buyerof a can can determine, after rubbing off the layer, whether he/she haswon anything in accordance with the information lying under it. Theannular transition region with the supporting ring thus remains withoutcoating, hence the corrosion problem is not solved. Moreover, the rubbedoff coating, or the coating that can be worn off, is not suited forcontinuously coating the support ring. The removability of the coatingis crucial for the promotional game.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,797 discloses a cover that is engageable inconnection with the upper end face with the aperture to a beverage can.In order that the top remains locking on the can, an outwardlyprojecting annular region must be provided on the can end, via which acorresponding elastic annular region of the cover can be inverted untilit locks. Such a top is very expensive to manufacture and install.Moreover it cannot be installed on the can base due to the lack of anoutwardly projecting annular region.

A further cover that is installed by screwing only at the opening of abeverage can is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,447. The screw lock ofthis cover requires outwardly projecting ribs on the beverage can thatcan interact with inward-standing elements on the cover. The featuresnecessary on the can and on the cover for use of the cover are extremelyexpensive to manufacture It is also very expensive to screw the coveronto the can. Therefore, the possibility of arranging a promotionalarticle in such a screw lock is associated with an excessiveexpenditure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is based upon the task of findinga simple solution for a can that can advantageously be aestheticallyconfigured without being impaired by a bar code or advertisinginformation. In particular, a possible corrosion on the base is to beprevented.

In one embodiment, it was recognized in accomplishing the objective thatcorrosion problems and aesthetic problems can both be solved by applyingan external covering in the form of a sheet material. The sheet materialis fixed in position on an annular connection region of the can body. Ifthe connection is formed along a closed circular line, the membrane-likebase covering receives a high level of stability.

The base covering is basically constructed flat in a main region that issurrounded by the annular connection region and preferably includes theprintout of a bar code. If the bar code can be applied on a basicallyeven base surface, then the impairment of the possibility of designingthe can wall disappears. No printing rollers for the bar code arenecessary for printing the decoration on the can wall. Large amounts ofcan bodies with an attractive standard decoration on the can wall can bemanufactured. Possibly changing information, or information that is notidentical for all countries, such as the bar code or even the fillingdate, and/or aesthetically disturbing information are printed on thebase covering. These potentially different base coverings can be printedshortly before the filling time of individual product batches, and canbe fixed into position on the standard of the can body. In this way, thesame can can be used for all countries and filling batches.

Because the base covering can be constructed flat in the region of thebar code, the bar code is more readable than a bar code that is appliedto a curved can wall. If the coating of the exterior of the can wallextends up to the outer edging of the base covering in the form of atleast a paint layer or a decorative foil, then a metallic edge becomingvisible on the lower can edge can be prevented. The base covering maycover an annular downward-projecting stand region of the can body, thuspreventing the occurrence of corrosion problems.

The base covering is preferably constructed in the form of a sheetplastic material. It is obvious that sheet material having at least onemetal layer, especially an aluminum or steel layer, or even with acardboard layer, can also be used. Here the stability-imparting layermay also be coated with plastic.

The sheet materials that are used should guarantee a robust basecovering that will not be damaged on the conveyor apparatuses of fillingassemblies and also will remain as constant as possible even whenstanding on wet supports. The aforementioned sheet materials can all beprovided with a sealing coating and consequently can be sealed on thebase. When metal foils are used, the heat required for the sealingprocess can also be introduced inductively. A latching connection or awelded connection can also be used instead of a seal connection forfixing the base covering into position, especially with at least threelaser welding points.

It is obvious that the base covering of an embodiment of the inventionis not restricted to use in cans. There are also vessels, especiallyplastic bottles, the bases of which include an annular downwardprojecting base region and on which consequently a base covering can befixed. Although there exists no danger of corrosion with plasticvessels, the use of base coverings for the placement of bar codes andadvertising information on vessel bases is advantageous.

If a decorative layer in the form of at least one paint layer, butpreferably as a decorative foil, is applied on the exterior of the canwall, then the base covering can be constructed such that the decorativelayer extends at least to the outer edging of the base covering.Preferably, however, the decorative layer is somewhat overlapped by thebase covering. This prevents foils from being able to loosen on the endregion of the can body when decorative foils are used.

When decorative foils are used, a can body with a can wall and base canbe manufactured economically corresponding to the respectiverequirements. If need be, a decorative foil can be subsequently appliedto the can wall so that imprinting the can body can be dispensed with.If the can wall and base are pressed from a single element, as perhapswith aerosol cans made of aluminum or with cans made from steel sheets,then the necessary intensive cleaning and drying for imprinting can bedispensed with. A peeling of the foil can be ruled out with foils closedin the peripheral direction that are overlapped by the base covering. Ifthe can body is assembled from a jacket and a base, these two parts maybe joined to one another via a folded seam, but preferably a weldedseam, especially a laser welded seam. A decorative foil is preferablyapplied after this joining step, wherein preferably a close and inparticular firm application of the foil on the can body can beguaranteed by using a shrinkable foil, especially with a sealing layerthat faces the can body. If the can jacket and base are joined using afolded connection, then the folded connection may also be made after thedecorative foil is applied, whereby then the folded seam would take overholding the foil on the lower end of the can.

The base covering, or if need the decorative foil as well, permits acovering of the connection between the jacket and base so that no highaesthetic standards must be imposed on this connection. When a weldedseam or laser connection is used, the annular connection region ispreferably formed by an end region of the can jacket projecting over thebase, wherein this end region is drawn especially somewhat toward thecan axis and forms the annular transition region. With a folded seam,this can be constructed in the region of the can base and if need be canbe pressed toward the interior of the can such that a curved jacket endregion can be used as an annular connection region. With these describedvariants, a base covering that is fixed into position on the annularconnection region bridges the respective connection seam

In order to produce an aesthetically attractive can body, the transitionfrom the can wall to the base covering is constructed circularsegment-like in longitudinal section, whereby it preferably has acurvature radius ranging from 1 to 6 mm, especially basically 3 mm.

Thanks to the base covering it is now possible, for example, to furnisha two- or three-piece aerosol can of sheet steel that has the appearanceof a one-piece aluminum can. The possible embodiments in the base areahave already been described above. In order to form the valve seat onthe upper end face of the can, a compression necking process can beprovided in the case of a two-piece can, and the use of an upper endpiece with valve seat in the case of a three-piece can.

Obviously the invention includes all solutions resulting from thecombination of the features and embodiments described. Varying thefeatures includes, for example, choosing between one-, two- orthree-piece cans, with two- and multiple-piece cans, the choice ofvarious modes of connection between the parts, providing or omitting adecorative foil, the choice of a specific base covering and itsfastening on the can body as well as the selection of material for thecan and the base covering. Even unexpected combinations can lead toadvantageous solutions. Thus, for example, a one-piece aluminum can witha base covering that includes magnetizable sheet steel has the advantagethat this can can be conveyed via magnetic conveyors while usingmagnetic forces of adhesion with various axis alignments.

The possibility of clamping a decorative foil firmly on the lower canend with the base covering opens up a many sided use of decorativefoils. These foils are imprinted when needed on their exterior, butpreferably on the side facing the can body. The printed layer isprotected with a transparent foil that is imprinted on the reverse side,or on the side facing the can body, so that no friction-conditionedimpairments of the decoration can arise. A transparent foil printed onthe reverse side can be provided with a sealing layer after imprintingthrough the printed layer, which also guarantees a seal connectionbetween the foil and the can body. In order to be able to shrink thefoil on the can body, a piece of foil is shaped in a first step into aclosed foil jacket and joined together on the two side lines allocatedto each other, whereby preferably a seal connection is created. Thisfoil jacket has a slightly greater cross section than the can body andcan thus be inverted over the can body and shrunk on the latter as wellas sealed fast with the application of heat. After applying thedecorative foil, the base covering is fixed into position such that itsomewhat overlaps the foil end on the base. It is obvious that the basecovering can also be constructed annularly so that it holds the end ofthe foil securely on the can body but does not completely cover the canbase.

Applying foils to a can body is known, for example, from EP 1 153 837A1, wherein however there with each foil segment, the printed layer maynot be applied up to the foil edge, respectively a blank foil edge isneeded. In accordance with this known solution, a sealing layer arrangedbetween the foil and the printed layer must lie open when constructingthe closed foil jacket to generate a sealing seam. Therefore theimprinting and the succeeding cutting of the foil track must be exactlyharmonized with each other, which is not attainable with simpleexpenditure with a thin foil due to its elastic deformability. In thisconnection the present invention provides a simplification. Because asealing layer is applied to the printed layer, the printed layer can beconstructed continuously. Cutting the pieces of foil need not preciselyagree with the printing, and the formation of a sealing seam is alwaysguaranteed.

A sufficiently shrinkable foil can guarantee that the decorative foillies free from folds on the body after the shrinking process in thedrawn-in base region, and if need be also in a drawn-in upper endregion. Because weld seams and especially laser connections can beconstructed such that the surface of the can body is basically smootheven in the region of the seam, it can no longer be recognized afterapplying the decorative foil and the base covering that the can body wasbrought into the desired shape using seams. With cylindrical can bodies,a rectangular sheet is shaped into a can jacket with a longitudinalseam. But it would also be possible to assemble the can jacket out oftwo or more jacket pieces with two or more longitudinal seams so that ifneed be a jacket deviating from the cylindrical shape arises. Thedeviation from a circular cylindrical shape can arise in the crosssection as well as in the longitudinal direction.

In order to be able to hold a decorative foil extremely securely on thecan body even on the upper end of the can, an annular covering elementis also provided there. This upper covering element is formed inconnection with aerosol cans if need be from a sub-region of the valveor from a part fastened onto the valve seat. It is obvious that it canalso be fixed in position on the upper end of the can analogously to thebase covering through a seal connection, a latching connection or awelding connection, especially with at least three laser welding points,wherein this part covers the upper foil end and therewith protects itfrom tearing off.

Covering the foil end on at least one end of the can, especially below,makes it possible to dispense with cutting the foil or foil jacketexactly to size in the direction of the axis of the can without in thisway an unsightly end being able to make an appearance. Moreover, foldsthat could form on strongly necked end regions are covered by the basecovering and/or by the annular covering element.

Embodiments should also be included in which the base covering liesdirectly on the base with a surface adapted to the shape of the base andis in particular sprayed directly on the base as an injection moldedcomponent.

The solution of the embodiments of the invention opens up newconfiguration possibilities for cans. Moreover, simplifications in canmanufacturing result, allowing the cans to be assembled directly at thefilling site. This has the advantage that the space-consuming transportof empty cans from a facility for manufacturing cans to the variousfilling facilities can be dispensed with. The cans are, for example,assembled from a flat sheet metal piece from which the jacket is formed,from a base component, an upper end component, and a base covering,along with a decorative foil. The base elements, the upper end elementsand the base coverings can be stacked with little free space and canconsequently be transported in a space-saving manner like stacks ofpieces of sheet metal and foil rolls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will becomeevident from the description of illustrated exemplary embodiments givenhereinbelow and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way ofillustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention,wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical section through an aerosol can inaccordance with the state of the art,

FIG. 2 Illustrates a cutaway of a vertical section through an aerosolcan with a base covering,

FIG. 3 Illustrates a cutaway of a vertical section through an aerosolcan with a base covering and an advertising article FIG. 4 illustrates avertical section through an aerosol can and a device for applying a basecovering,

FIG. 5 Illustrates a vertical section through an aerosol can with a basecovering, wherein the can body is assembled from three parts,

FIG. 6 Illustrates a detailed cutaway from the base region of a can inaccordance with FIG. 5 with a base covering that is fixed into positionusing a sealing or welding connection,

FIG. 7 Illustrates a detailed cutaway of a can with a base covering thatis fixed into position using a latching connection,

FIG. 8 Illustrates a detailed cutaway of a can with a base covering,wherein can base and jacket are connected through a folded connection,and

FIG. 9 Illustrates a detailed cutaway of a one piece can with a basecovering that is fixed in position using a latching connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a can body 1 in accordance with the state of the artwith a jacket-like closed can wall 2 and a base 3 on the lower end faceof the can wall 2. This is an aerosol can whose base 3 is arched with acentral region 3 a against the can interior. A downwardly projectingannular edge region 3 b is formed around the central region 3 a. Thecans stand on a support line of the annular edge region 3 b wherein thesupport line can be weakened by corrosion so that the central region 3 acan break out. The can wall and the base include a metal layer 5. Adecorative layer 4 is arranged on the exterior of the can wall 2 or atthe metal layer 5 that extends from a valve seat 6 through a conifiedneck and the predominant region of the can wall 2 up to the transitionwall from the can wall 2 to the base 3. An uncoated can region isvisible beneath the lower edging of the decorative layer 4.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of an aerosol can 1 with an externalbase covering 7 in the form of a plastic sheet material that is fixed toa downward projecting annular edge region 3 b of the base 3 with a sealconnection 8. The edge region 3 b consequently forms a connection regionon which the base covering 7 is fixed into position. The base covering 7includes a contact region 7 b that lies on the edge region 3 b. The sealconnection 8 extends at least over a sub-region of the contact region 7b and is preferably formed by a sealing layer arranged on the basecovering 7 that was sealed by a sealing apparatus to the edge region 3b. It is obvious that the connection between the edge region 3 b and thecontact region 7 b can also be attained with an adhesive.

The decorative layer 4 can be constructed as a coating on the exteriorof the can wall 2 in the form of at least one layer of paint as well asin the form of a decorative foil. The decorative layer 4 extendspreferably at least up to the outer edging of the base covering 7. Inthe embodiment represented, the decorative layer 4 is somewhatoverlapped by the base covering 7. In this way, the metal layer 5 can beprevented from being accessible in the base region. A danger ofcorrosion is consequently ruled out. The flat sheet material of the basecovering 7 has a layer thickness of at least 0.02 mm, preferably,however, in the range from 0.08 to 0.8 mm, especially from 0.2 to 0.6mm. In this way, the strength necessary for different mechanicalstresses can be guaranteed.

The base covering 7 includes a main region 7 a, surrounded by thecontact region 7 b or by the inner edging of the seal connection, thatis basically constructed flat and in particular includes the printout ofa bar code. The base covering 7 includes a tear-apart device if need bethat is constructed somewhat in the form of a weakened tear apart linein the main region 7 a. By tearing along the tear-apart line using astrap, a part of the main region 7 a of the can can be removed or atleast swung out. Winning information can be applied on the interiorsurface of this element that becomes accessible via the tearing. A basecovering 7 that can be torn off enables effects that permit advertising.

FIG. 3 illustrates a base covering 7 with a first and a second coveringelement surface 7 c and 7 d, wherein the first covering element surface7 c is connected via the seal connection 8 with the edge region 3 b ofthe base 3, and the second covering element surface 7 d is fixed intoposition separably on the first covering element surface 7 c. In orderto be able to separate the covering surface 7 d, a grasping strip 7 e,for example, is constructed on the covering element surface 7 d. If thefirst covering element surface 7 c has an opening in the central region,an advertising article 9 arranged between the central region 3 a of thebase 3 and the base covering 7 can be removed after separating thesecond covering element surface 7 d. The base covering 7 makes possiblenumerous advertising effects. The covering subsurface 7 d can, forexample, be constructed as a collection piece that has on the one side amotif or an image and if need be a designation for it on the other side.The advertising article 9 and/or the covering subsurface 7 d can includecollection points, good luck sayings or even recipes. If beverages arepoured into the can body, a beverage additive, such as perhaps vitamins,alcohol, stimulants or sweeteners, may be arranged in the hollow spacebetween can base and the base covering instead of the advertisingarticle. It would also be advantageous to sell medications directly withwater, wherein the medication would be arranged between the can base andthe base covering of the vessel with the water.

FIG. 4 shows a device with which the base covering 7 can be sealed fastto the downward projecting annular edge region 3 b of the base 3. Thedevice includes a retaining apparatus for retaining the can body and asealing apparatus 10 with an annular sealing surface 10 a that isadapted to the edge region 3 b of the base 3. In order to heat thesealing surface 10 a to a desired temperature, the sealing surface 10 ais allocated a heating device 10 b. The heating apparatus must beconstructed such that the sealing surface 10 a is movable relative tothe base 3. In the embodiment represented, the retaining apparatusincludes a centering apparatus 11 that extends ring-like around thesealing apparatus 10 for accommodation of the can base 3 and a hold downapparatus 12 that in interaction with the sealing apparatus 10 makesattainable the desired contact pressure between the base covering 7 andthe base 3 of the can body 1. In order that the base covering 7 does notneed to be moved by the heated sealing apparatus 10 to the base 3, thesealing apparatus 10 preferably includes a feeding apparatus 13 that ismovable relative to the sealing surface 10 a.

In accommodating a base covering 7 that can if necessary be fed in fromthe side, the feeding apparatus 13 is arranged over the sealing surface10 a. After a can body 1 is inserted into the centering apparatus 11,the base covering 7 is moved by the feeding apparatus 13 toward the base3. Subsequently the annular sealing surface 10 a presses the contactregion 7 b against the edge region 3 b until the heat administered hasattained the desired sealing connection 8. It is obvious that theretaining apparatus and the sealing apparatus can be configured inaccordance with solutions from the state of the art. In particular, itwould also be possible to provide a retaining device that retains thecan body solely from an end face and/or holds the latter with the baseupward.

In order to implement the sealing connection between the can base andthe base covering, at least one processing station is provided, whichpreferably includes a rotary table, to which is allocated sealingapparatuses rotating along with it. In this manner, the sealing can beconducted during the rotary motion of the rotary table. Such aprocessing station can, for example, be arranged in the fillingoperation before or after filling.

FIG. 5 shows the can body 1 of an aerosol can 1, wherein the can body 1is assembled from a jacket element 1 a and a base element 1 b. The viewof the connection between the base element 1 b and the jacket element 1a is covered by the base covering 7. The jacket element 1 a is providedwith a decorative layer 4 that if necessary can be printed directly ontothe cylindrical can body. If the jacket element 1 a is made out of asheet of metal by transformation and application of a welded seam, thenthe decorative layer 4 can also be previously printed upon the flatmetal sheet. A valve seat is constructed at the upper end of the canbody 1 by die necking and transforming the opening into a valve seat. Ifneed be, a decorative foil is shrunk on directly after the necking,basically extending to the end corner of the jacket element 1 a so thatthe end of the foil is clamped after transforming by the transformed canedge.

If the decorative layer 4, especially the decorative foil, does notextend to the upper edge of the can, an upper covering element 14 can bearranged on the upper end of the can, at least covering the can endregion without decorative layer. If the can body is made of three parts,an upper end piece with the valve seat must be fixed into position onthe jacket element 1 a. In accordance with the state of the art, this isdone with a folded seam or if need be via welding (EP 208 564 B1). Theunattractive seam region thereby arising between the upper end elementand the jacket element 1 a can be covered by the upper covering element14. In the case of an aerosol can, the upper covering element 14 is anelement that is connected to the valve and always rests on the canfollowing insertion of the valve. By providing covering elements 7, 14,three-piece cans can be furnished in which the consumer cannot recognizethat the can body 1 is composed of various parts. Basically all knowntypes of connection for tightly connecting can elements can be used.

In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 5, the base element 1 b isconnected via an annular welding connection to the jacket element 1 a.On the base, an edge region of the base element 1 b extends along thejacket element 1 a adjacent to the lower edge of the jacket element 1 a.The welding connection can be made in the form of a fillet seam or alsoin the contact region of these two elements by penetrating one element.It is obvious that the elements can also be butt welded, that at leastone of the two connections could be constructed as a folded connection,or that a connection is provided only below or only above. Without usingan upper end piece, the jacket element 1 a must be strongly necked toform a valve seat, which is for various materials associated with greatexpenditure, especially with many die necking steps, and in the worstcase with insurmountable problems. Due to the covering possibility, anoptimized assembly of the can body can be selected without it appearingnegative in appearance.

If the can body is provided with a decorative foil, the base covering 7and if necessary also the upper covering element 14, can be used toprotect or firmly clamp the lower or upper foil edge. In this way, thedanger of a decorative foil loosening can be substantially reduced. Evenwelded seams in the longitudinal direction of the can can be coveredwith a decorative foil. A can jacket that is formed by bending andwelding, especially laser welding, can already receive a special shapeby cutting the assembled elements to size. Because the material of theat least one metallic sheet material shaped into the jacket is nothardened by transformation steps, the jacket can at least be transformedregionally by altering the periphery. In this way, aestheticallyattractive cans can be formed that can be provided with a shrinkingdecorative foil before or if necessary after transformation.Consequently, new configuration possibilities result.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway from a can body 1 in which a base element 1 b ispermanently welded to the jacket element 1 a, projecting upward,dome-like. A welded connection 16 is formed between an annular region 15and a peripheral line of the jacket element 1 a that, for example,extends through the annular region 15 to the jacket element 1 a and ispreferably generated via laser welding. With aerosol cans, the caninterior must accommodate an increased pressure. A fold-likestrengthening of the annular region 15 prevents a detachment of the baseelement 1 b from the jacket element 1 a. With an impermissibly highinternal pressure, the arching of the base element 1 b can deform towardthe outside and thus indicate the excess pressure as well as prevent abursting. The base covering 7 includes a main region 7 a surrounded bythe contact region 7 b that is preferably constructed basically flat andcan in particular accommodate the printout of a bar code. In theembodiment represented, the contact region 7 b is fixed in position on acorresponding annular connection region 3 b′ on the lower end of thejacket element 1 a. An adhesive or seal connection 8, for example, canbe provided for fixing into position. If the material of the contactregion 7 b includes metal, the connection can also be guaranteed by weldpoints 17, for example at least three laser welding points.

In the represented embodiment, a decorative layer 4 in the form of adecorative foil 4′ is situated on the exterior of the can body 1. Thedecorative foil 4′ is shrunk fast before the base covering 7 is fixedinto position on the can body 1. The lower edge of the decorative foil4′ need not be exactly cut to size because it is covered by the basecovering 7. It extends at least somewhat into the connection region 3b′, but can also project somewhat over the edge of the jacket element 1a. The seal connection must consequently be at least partiallyconstructed between the exterior of the decorative foil 4′ and thecontact region 7 b with a sealed connection between the contact region 7b and the connection region 3 b′. The decorative foil 4′ should thusadhere sufficiently well to the connection region 3 b′ For this, sealinglayers are present approximately in the connection region on both sidesof the decorative foil, which guarantee a fast connection due to thesealing process. The transition from the jacket element 1 a or from thecan wall 2 to the base covering 7 is constructed in the form of acircular segment in longitudinal segment or is drawn in toward theinterior and preferably has a curvature radius ranging from 1 to 6 mm,especially basically 3 mm. This radius permits in comparison to cornersan unimpeded conveyance even over short steps. If need be, the basecovering 7 forms a base wherein a standing can body 1 is only in contactwith the support surface through the base covering 7.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which the base element 1 b is fastened tothe jacket element 1 a via a welded seam 16 in the form of a filletseam. The base covering 7 is fixed into position with a latchingconnection on the lower edge region of the jacket element 1 a. Theconnection region 3 b′ is formed by the lower and free edge region ofthe jacket element 1 a. The contact region 7 b of the base covering 7lies form-locking on the connection region 3 b′ and is preferably formedby spring lips 7 f, so that the base covering 7 can be inserted underspring deformation of the spring lips 7 f on the underside of the canbody 1. The decorative foil 4′ extends between the jacket element 1 aand the base element 1 b over the connection region 3 b′ and isconsequently clamped fast on the can body 1 by the base covering 7.

Because it is possible to omit a seal or welded connection, the basecovering 7 does not need to be sealable or weldable. Consequently, anydesired plastics or even metals, especially coated and/or magneticmetals, can be used to manufacture the base covering. The spring lips 7f can be constructed in any desired form and are provided at least atthree points basically equally spaced in the peripheral direction.Because positioning a latching element without a sealing or weldingdevice can be conducted by a single linear motion of a pressing element,the method as well as the device for fixing a latching base covering inposition are extremely simple.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the base element 1 b is joined tothe jacket element 1 a via a folded connection 18. The folded connection18 is preferably so constructed and deformed toward the interior of thecan that the transition from jacket element 1 a or from the can wall 2to the base element 1 a is in the form of a circular segment in thelongitudinal section and includes a connection region 3 b′ for fixingthe base covering 7 in place. A sealing or welding connection isconstructed between the connection region 3 b′ and the contact region 7b for fixing the base covering. The folded connection 18 is covered overby the base covering 7. If necessary a decorative foil 4′ extends alongthe jacket element 1 a up to under the contact region 7 b.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which a can body 1 was constructed usingpressing, especially cold impact pressing, such that the base 3transitions into the upright standing can wall 2 and into a wall segment2′ standing downward. The can wall 2 together with the wall segment 2′will form a cylindrical jacket surface directly after pressing that can,which surface for example, can be imprinted with a decorative layer 4.The wall segment 2′ is somewhat drawn in, in order to be able to fix thebase covering thereon. In the embodiment represented, the decorativelayer extends basically up to the base covering. That means that theentire region of the can body 1 visible from the side has a decoration.If necessary a foil that extends up to beneath the base covering isprovided. If the can body is made of aluminum, then a can body that canbe conveyed using magnetic conveyors can be furnished by inserting abase covering 7 with magnetizable metal.

Exemplary embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, andall such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

1. Can body, comprising: a jacket-like closed can wall extending aroundan axis of the can; and a base constructed on one end of the can wall,wherein at least in one sub-region of the base, an external basecovering is constructed in the form of a sheet material and isfixed—into position on an annular connection region of the can body, adecorative layer is constructed on the exterior of the can wall in theform of at least one paint layer and wherein the decorative layerextends at least to the outer edging of the base covering.
 2. Can bodyaccording to claim 1, wherein the decorative layer is somewhatoverlapped by the base covering.
 3. Can body according to claim 1,wherein at least one layer of the can wall and the base is made ofmetal.
 4. Can body according to claim 1, wherein the can walls and thebase are at least one of made from a single piece and joined to oneanother via a seam.
 5. Can body according to claim 1, wherein at leastone of a sealed connection, a latching connection, and a weldedconnection is constructed between the base covering and the can body. 6.Can body according to claim 1, wherein the base covering is fixed intoposition on the base, on one end region of the can wall projecting overthe base that is somewhat drawn in toward the axis of the can, whereinthe transition from the can wall to the annular connection region isconstructed in the form of a circular segment.
 7. Can body according toclaim 1, wherein the base covering forms a standing region, and whereina standing can body is only in contact with a support surface throughthe base covering.
 8. Can body—according to claim 1, wherein the basecovering is constructed basically flat in a main region that issurrounded by the annular connection region.
 9. Can body according toclaim 1, wherein the base covering includes tear apart device in theform of a first and a second covering subsurface, wherein the firstcovering subsurface is joined with the base via the seal connection andthe second covering subsurface is fixed separably into position on thefirst covering subsurface.
 10. Can body according to claim 1, wherein ahollow space, especially for accommodating an advertising article, isconstructed between the base covering and the base.
 11. Method forapplying a base covering in connection with the base of a can body witha can wall that extends like a jacket around the axis of the can, and abase constructed on one end of the can wall, wherein at least one layerof the can wall and the base is made of metal and a decorative layer isconstructed on the exterior of the can wall in the form of at least onepaint layer, comprising: fixing the base covering in the form of a sheetmaterial into position on an annular connection region of the can bodyand wherein after said fixing. the decorative layer extends at least tothe outer edging of the base covering.
 12. Method according to claim 11,wherein, before the base covering is fixed into place, the can wall andthe base are joined to one another via a seam, and the end region of thecan wall that projects over the base is, if necessary, somewhat drawn inagainst the can axis.
 13. Method according to claim 11, wherein, beforethe base covering is fixed into position, a decorative foil is arrangedon the exterior of the can wall and an end region of the decorative foilis covered over by the base covering when the base covering is beingfixed into position.
 14. Device for applying an external base coveringon a base of a can body that includes a closed can wall that extendslike a jacket around an axis of the can, a base that is constructed onthe one end of the can wall and a decorative layer constructed on theexterior of the can wall in the form of at least one paint layer, thedevice comprising: a retaining apparatus for retaining the can wall,wherein the retaining device holds the base of a retained can body free,and a position fixing apparatus makes the base covering movable towardthe base and able to be fixed into position there, wherein after saidfixing, the decorative layer extends at least to the outer edging of thebase covering.
 15. Device according to claim 14, wherein the positionfixing apparatus comprises a feeding apparatus for feeding a basecovering to the base of a can body held by the retaining apparatus, andincludes at least one of a sealing apparatus, a pressing apparatus and,a welding device. Device according to claim 14, wherein the retainingapparatus includes a centering apparatus for accommodating the base anda hold down apparatuses, wherein the hold down apparatus, in interactionwith the position fixing apparatus, makes a
 16. desired contact forceattainable between the base covering and the annular connection regionof the can body.
 17. Can body according to claim 1, wherein a decorativelayer includes a decorative foil.
 18. Can body according to claim 1,wherein the base covering is at least partially made of metal.
 19. Canbody according to claim 1, wherein the base covering is at leastpartially made of plastic.
 20. Can body according to claim 1, whereinthe base covering has a layer thickness of at least 0.02 mm.
 21. Canbody according to claim 1, wherein the base covering has a layerthickness in the region from 0.08 to 0.8 mm
 22. Can body according toclaim 1, wherein the base covering has a layer thickness in the regionfrom 0.2 to 0.6 mm.
 23. Can body according to claim 1, wherein the canwall and the base are joined to one another via a welded seam.
 24. Canbody according to claim 1, wherein the can wall and the base are joinedto one another via a laser welded seam.
 25. Can body according to claim6, wherein the transition from the can wall to the annular connectionregion is constructed with a curvature radius in the range from 1 to 6mm
 26. Can body according to claim 25, wherein the curvature radius isbasically 3 mm.
 27. Can body according to claim 8, wherein the basecovering includes an imprintable region.
 28. Can body according to claim1, wherein a hollow space, for accommodating an advertising article, isconstructed between the base covering and the base.
 29. Can bodyaccording to claim 1, wherein the base covering, with a surface adaptedto the shape of the base, lies directly on the base.
 30. Can bodyaccording to claim 29, wherein the base covering is sprayed directlyonto the base as an injection molded component.
 31. Method according toclaim 12, wherein the can wall and the base are joined to one anothervia a welded seam.
 32. Method according to claim 12, wherein the canwall and the base are joined to one another via a laser welded seam. 33.Device according to claim 15, wherein the retaining apparatus includes acentering apparatus for accommodating the base and a hold downapparatus, wherein the hold down apparatus, in interaction with theposition fixing apparatus, makes a desired contact force attainablebetween the base covering and the annular connection region of the canbody.
 34. Can body according to claim 8, wherein the base coveringincludes an imprintable region including a bar code.